Method and apparatus for producing high dynamic range (hdr) pictures, and exposure apparatuses for use therein

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for producing dynamic range increase (DRI) or a high dynamic range (HDR) pictures, in which differently exposed individual images are combined by image processing to form an HDR or DRI picture. In order to also allow moving objects to be recorded more easily, and to overcome the restrictions relating to lack of mobility of a recording device, the exposure can be carried out by laser radiation containing wavelengths at different intensities.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing highdynamic range (HDR) pictures. The invention also relates to advantageousexposure apparatuses for use in a method such as this and an apparatussuch as this.

In photography and image processing, HDR image production or elsedynamic range increase—or DRI technology—is known as a method by meansof which a new image with a very high contrast ratio can be producedalgorithmically from a series of differently exposed individual images(exposure series).

HDR image production, alternatively also referred to as dynamic rangeincrease technology, is used in digital photography, in order to widenthe dynamic range of an image.

The aim of the HDR image production method or the DRI method is to mapthe overall contrast of a motif with major brightness differences on animage and thus to obtain as many details as possible, or all details,using a plurality of images with a narrower contrast range than that ofthe original motif as a source.

In this case, a plurality of recordings of exactly the same image detailare made using different exposure times. This results in overexposedpoints in the recordings which have been exposed for longer times, butwhich allow even weakly illuminated areas to be seen. In contrast, thebright points can be seen such that they can be differentiated in therecordings with the shorter exposure times while, however, the poorlyilluminated areas are black.

These individual recordings are subsequently combined using an imageprocessing program, with the brightest points in a recording in eachcase being replaced by those from the next darker recording. Thisresults in an image which can reflect a wider contrast range, and inwhich both the brightest and the darkest points can be seen in theirstructure.

In general, scenes with objects which have moved or are moving presentdifficulties, for example running people or animals, fluttering flags,etc.

By way of example, recordings with exposures of 1/125 seconds, 1/60seconds, 1/30 seconds, 1/15 seconds etc. are taken in order to producean exposure series of successive recordings. The large amount of timewhich is required to produce the exposure series in this way results inthe following restrictions to the method:

-   -   The imaged scene must be static.    -   The scene must not, for example, have any moving objects or        objects whose shape is changing (people running, plants in the        wind, waves etc., are generally difficult).    -   The camera must be installed statically, for example mounted on        a stand.

The object of the invention is to allow HDR or DRI recordings in whicheven moving objects can be recorded more easily and/or in which thecamera can also be arranged such that it can move.

This object is achieved by a method having the steps of the attachedpatent claim 1 and by an apparatus for carrying out this method havingthe features of the attached patent claim 16.

Advantageous exposure devices for use in a method such as this, as wellas in an apparatus such as this, are the subject matter of the furtherindependent claims.

Advantageous refinements of the invention are the subject matter of thedependent claims.

The invention makes it possible to produce highly dynamic images (HDR orDRI images) using an imaging system with active laser-basedillumination.

In particular, image series can be produced by means of a laserillumination pulse, which contains a plurality of wavelengths atdifferent intensities, or by a (preferably extremely rapid) sequence of(preferably very short) laser light pulses with different intensities,with a very short amount of time being required in comparison toexposure series using the previously known method, as a result of whichthere is no longer any restriction with respect to the dynamics of thescene or the movement of the camera itself.

By way of example, this makes it possible to carry out a DRI or HDRrecording of rapidly moving objects, a long distance away, from flyingplatforms.

The object to be recorded is illuminated with a different intensity bymeans of laser radiation from a laser apparatus, and an individual imageis in each case recorded for each intensity.

Different intensities result in independence from exposure times, sothat this itself makes it possible to achieve a considerable timeadvantage for image recording.

The individual images can be recorded successively in time, preferablyusing a camera with extremely rapid individual image recording, in timewith the laser pulses.

The image processing software assembles the overall image from theindividual images as in the traditional method, for which information isrequired about the intensity which has been used to record therespective individual image.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this can be achieved by ameasurement apparatus which is supplied with a portion of the radiationfor measurement of the intensity at the same time.

Faster and more reliable information can be obtained about theintensities, for image processing purposes, if the respectivetransmitted intensities have already been appropriately coded or markedduring transmission.

In one advantageous refinement of the invention, this can be achieved bya predetermined time sequence with which laser pulses of specificintensities are emitted. The receiving part is then supplied with theinformation relating to the time sequence, as a result of which it canassociate the individual successively recorded individual images withthe respective intensity.

A faster method can be achieved by associating the respectiveintensities with different wavelengths of the laser radiation to betransmitted. The receiving part can then appropriately filter out thewavelengths and pass them into different recording devices, inparticular cameras. This allows very short recording of the individualimages successively, and this is no longer governed so severely by therecording rate of the individual camera.

However, it is also possible to emit the wavelengths with differentintensities at the same time, for example in one combined laser pulse.Because of the different wavelength, the different intensities can thenbe associated with different cameras, which then record thecorresponding individual images.

The radiation element at a different wavelength can be achieved in thetransmitting part, for example likewise by splitting the radiation froma laser into different radiation elements, with corresponding waveconversion.

Other embodiments for suitable laser apparatuses for providing the laserradiation which is used as light radiation for illumination of theobject to be recorded have a plurality of lasers, arranged in a commonlaser apparatus, which emit the different laser radiation elements.

This can be achieved particularly advantageously by diode lasers, whichcan also be stacked very closely together.

In the method mentioned above, in which the laser pulses of differentintensity are emitted successively, it is possible to operate a diodelaser with a corresponding current pulse sequence. In this context, itis also advantageous to provide a diode laser arrangement with acorrespondingly high beam power.

In the embodiment with different wavelengths, an arrangement can beformed from diode lasers with different emission wavelengths. Differentintensities can be achieved by different dimensions of the diode laserunits—for example by providing different numbers of diode laser barswhich, for example, are each arranged in a stacked manner.

A pulse laser sequence with varying intensity can alternatively also beachieved, for example, by a laser oscillator/amplifier. In this case,the laser oscillator can transmit laser pulses at the same wavelengthand with the same intensity. The downstream laser amplifier is operatedwith pump energy which varies over time, in order to differently amplifythe individual pulses in this pulse sequence.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detailin the following text with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a transmitting part of a first embodiment of an apparatusfor producing HDR or DRI pictures, in a schematic form;

FIG. 2 shows a graph with an example of an intensity distribution of thelaser radiation emitted by the transmitting part shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a receiving part of the first embodiment of the apparatusfor producing DRI or HDR pictures, in the form of a schematic simplifiedillustration;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show two graphs, which show examples of wavelength spectrawhich are sent at the same time in a single laser pulse, with differentintensities and at different wavelengths;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a transmitting part for asecond embodiment of the apparatus for DRI or HDR image production;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of an individual diode laser unit;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodimentof a transmitting part for an apparatus for DRI or HDR image production,which is composed of a plurality of diode laser units as shown in FIG.7;

FIG. 9 shows a graph which shows a pulse sequence of laser pulses with adifferent amplitude as an example of further laser radiation, which isused for exposure purposes for DRI pictures or HDR pictures;

FIG. 10 shows a schematic illustration of a laser oscillator/laseramplifier apparatus, which can be used as a transmitting part in afurther embodiment of the apparatus for HDR or DRI image production, and

FIG. 11 shows a graph to illustrate pump energy which varies over timeand is applied to the laser amplifier in the laser oscillator/laseramplifier apparatus shown in FIG. 10.

In a first embodiment of a method for DRI or HDR image production, thetypical exposure series of the traditional HDR (high dynamic range)image production or DRI (dynamic range increase) image production isreplaced by a sequence of K short laser light pulses which follow oneanother at very short time intervals. By way of example, the laser lightpulses follow one another in the nanosecond or picosecond range.

In the first embodiment of the method, the individual pulses (N=1 . . .K) in this case are at different wavelengths λ_(N) (color coding) andhave different intensities I_(N) (illumination intensity).

By way of example, the intensity rises from one pulse to another withinthe pulse series (I_(N)≧I_(N+1)). A pulse series such as this with anintensity which increases from one pulse to another corresponds to theincreased exposure times in the traditional method, thus making itpossible to use the same type of image processing software as atraditional method.

The recording of K images, spectrally filtered corresponding to thewavelength λ_(N), of the back-scattered light now allows the individualimages produced in this way to be associated with the transmittedintensities I_(N). The algorithmic methods—which are in principle knownand are commercially available in the form of software—for HDR imageproduction or DRI image production can now be applied to the series of Kindividual images with a known illumination intensity.

By way of example, this allows HDR recording of rapidly moving objectsfrom flying platforms.

In one alternative method, as an alternative to the use of a pulsesequence, the illumination is carried out using a single, speciallyconfigured, laser pulse which contains different wavelengths withdifferent intensities.

FIGS. 1 and 3 show one embodiment of an apparatus 20 for HDR or DRIimage production. The apparatus 20 has a transmitting part 22, which isillustrated in FIG. 1, and a receiving part 24, which is illustrated inFIG. 3. The transmitting part has a laser apparatus 26. The laserapparatus 26 in the example illustrated here produces a laser beam,which is shown as a spectrum in FIG. 2.

The receiving part 24 has a recording device 28 and an image processingunit 14.

In a first version of the apparatus 20, the laser apparatus 26 has ashort-pulse laser 1 which transmits radiation with pulse widths in thenanosecond or picosecond range. The laser apparatus 26 furthermore has aspecial beamforming arrangement 30, in which pulse sequences areproduced in which each individual pulse 15 a to 15 f is at a differentwavelength and has a different intensity. In this case, the pulseintervals are preferably in the nanosecond or picosecond range.

A laser beam 7 such as this is used to illuminate a measurement objector an object 8 to be recorded. The light reflected back—reflectedradiation 9—passes through an optical filter arrangement 11 whichdistributes the radiation 9 between individual measurementchannels—color channels 12—in such a way that radiation at a singlewavelength is in each case recorded by an associated camera 13. Thismeans that a specific recording can in each case be associated with oneimage in one measurement branch or measurement channel, with this imagehaving been recorded with a specific illumination intensity. The pulseintervals are in this case sufficiently small so that the individualrecordings are obtained effectively from a stationary object. A DRI orHDR image can then be produced by means of suitable image processingmethods from the individual recordings obtained in this way.

In a second version of the apparatus 20, a plurality of wavelengthswhich have different intensities are produced by the use of differentshort-pulse laser techniques in a single laser pulse.

The apparatus 20 accordingly has the transmitting part 22 with the laserapparatus 26, and an illuminating laser. The receiving part 24 has therecording device 28—in this case with the optical filter arrangement 11and the individual cameras 13—and the image processing unit 14.

In the first embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the radiation fromthe short-pulse laser 1, which emits laser pulses with pulse widths inthe nanosecond or picosecond range, is split into a plurality ofbranches by means of beam splitters 2 of different reflection andtransmission for the pump radiation.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this is illustrated by wayof example for six beam elements 4, which six beam elements 4 each havedifferent intensities. Each individual beam element 4 has its wavelengthtransformed by means of optically non-linear materials 3, with differentwavelengths being produced. This is achieved by using opticallynon-linear processes. By way of example, higher harmonics can beproduced, conversion can be carried out by means of optically parametricoscillators or generators, and stimulated Raman scattering or four-wavemixing processes can be used in order to convert the primary radiationto different wavelengths.

The beam elements 4 of different color obtained in this way are combinedto form a single laser beam 7, and this is done, for example, using asimple arrangement of edge filters 5.

The intensities at the different wavelengths can also be set in a simplemanner by means of a suitable color filter (not illustrated) which isinserted into the laser beam 7.

In order to determine the different illumination intensities requiredfor image processing at the individual wavelengths, a fraction of thelaser beam is passed to a measurement unit 18 by means of a beamsplitter 17.

The laser beam 7 now contains a pulse sequence 16 which is composed ofindividual pulses 15 a to 15 f which are at different wavelengths λ_(N)and have different intensities I_(N), as is illustrated in FIG. 2.

The divergence of the resultant laser beam 7 can be adapted by means ofa suitable first telescope 6 such that the object 8 is optimallyilluminated. The pulse sequences can be repeated, corresponding to therepetition rate of the short-pulse laser 1.

As is illustrated in FIG. 3, the radiation 9 reflected back from theobject 8 is detected by a second telescope 10, and is then passed bymeans of a filter arrangement 11 into individual color channels 12,which each contain a camera 13 by means of which the color-coded imagesare recorded.

The image processing unit 14 can now produce a DRI image or HDR imagefrom the images from the individual measurement channels or colorchannels 12, which have been recorded with different illuminationintensities.

Since the laser radiation can be produced with high intensities, with alarge number of photons being produced, even poorly reflective objectsand/or objects a long distance away can also be detected.

In a second refinement of the apparatus 20, which is not illustrated inmore detail but whose basic design is very similar, the laser apparatus26, which is used as a transmitting or illuminating laser, produces aplurality of wavelengths in a single pulse, with the intensities ofthese wavelengths being different. For example, the laser apparatus 26has a multicolor laser for this purpose. In an arrangement such as thiswith a multicolor laser, there is no need to split the primary laserbeam into a plurality of branches as in the case of FIG. 1. By way ofexample, a multicolor laser such as this uses the optically non-linearprocess of stimulated Raman scatter, in which a plurality of discretewavelengths are produced from one laser pulse at a specific wavelength,which discrete wavelengths have different intensities depending on theirorder in accordance with the so-called Stokes or anti-Stokes lines; inthis context, see in detail J. Findeisen, H. J. Eichler, P. Peuser, A.A. Kaminskii, J. Hulliger; Appl. Phys. B 70 (2000) 159. By way ofexample, a laser pulse produced in this way is illustrated as a spectrumdiagram in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example, in which a wavelength sequence withdifferent intensities has been produced by four wavelength mixtures; formore details relating to this, see J. Findeisen, Dissertation, TUBerlin, 1999, D83, Chapter 3, pages 39-40.

The production of earlier harmonics and/or conversion by means ofoptically parametric oscillators or generators can also be used as othernon-linear processes in order to convert the primary radiation todifferent wavelengths.

Furthermore, the production of so-called “chirped pulses” can also beused to produce an individual laser pulse which contains differentwavelengths with different intensities, with the frequencies orwavelengths contained in an ultra-short pulse producing a continuouscolor spectrum whose intensity profile can be influenced as a functionof the wavelength in a simple manner, for example also by subsequentcolor filtering, thus resulting in significant intensity differences inthe wavelength spectrum. By way of example, chirped pulses can beproduced in a simple manner by passing an ultra-short pulse through atransparent medium.

Arrangements of semiconductor lasers with high power levels are alsosuitable as further laser illumination beam sources which producedifferent intensities at different wavelengths for DRI or HDRI picturesin a single illumination pulse, as will be explained in more detail inthe following text with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the laser apparatus 26, which canbe used in a transmitting part 22 of a further embodiment of theapparatus 20. The laser apparatus 26 has an arrangement 32 comprising aplurality of lasers, in this case in the form of high-power diode lasers117. In a first refinement of this arrangement 32, diode lasers 117 withdifferent emission wavelengths are provided. By way of example, diodelasers are provided that emit at 780 nm, 800 nm, 820 nm, 840 nm, etc.The radiation elements at different emission wavelengths are in eachcase emitted with different power levels. The beam elements 4 from theindividual diode lasers 117 are superimposed colinearly, and arecombined to form a single laser beam 7. By way of example, this is doneusing edge filters 111. A suitable high beam quality is advantageous forthis purpose. This can be achieved for each individual diode laser 117using, for example, the same beamforming techniques as those used forefficient injection of diode laser radiation at a high power level intoan optical fiber. For example, it is thus possible to inject diode laserradiation at more than 1 kW into an optical fiber. For further detailsrelating to the applicable techniques, reference is made to P. Peuser etal., Opt. Lett. 31 (2006) 1991.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the individual diode lasers 117 aresynchronized with the aid of a common control unit 118, such that theemission takes place at the same time. The pulse lengths are typicallyin the range between 110 μs and one millisecond. Longer pulse lengthsare possible. The available pulse energies may in this case be in therange up to one Joule or more, as a result of which a large number ofphotons are produced.

However, it is also possible to use other diode laser types, whichproduce pulse widths in the region of several 10 ns or 100 ns. In thiscase, the achievable number of photons is, however, a number of ordersof magnitude less. Further available wavelength ranges are around 900 nmto 980 nm, or else around 1500 nm. This wavelength range is particularlyadvantageous for eye-safe operation.

A novel compact variant of an arrangement 32 of high-power diode lasers117 such as this will be explained in more detail in the following textwith reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, and this arrangement 32 is particularlysuitable for use as an illumination source in the methods andapparatuses proposed here.

In order to produce high output power levels up to the kW range, aplurality of so-called diode laser bars 119 are stacked one on top ofthe other, according to the prior art. This is explained in more detail,for example, in P. Peuser, N. P. Schmitt; DiodengepumpteFestkörperlaser; Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, 1995, to which expressreference is made. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a plurality of diode laserbars 119 are now combined in a common stack 120 for use as a DIR or HDRillumination beam source, with different emission wavelengths. The barstypically have a width of about 10 mm, with the diode laser elements 21(“arrays”) being formed on a mount 122, via which the heat losses arepassed to a common heat dissipation plate 123.

Micro-cylindrical lenses 124 are additionally fitted for betterbeamforming, as is known in principle in the prior art. The individualdiode laser bars 119 are separated from one another by spacing elements125. The radiation emitted from the individual diode laser bars 119 isthen combined using suitable beamforming techniques—in this context seeP. Peuser et al., Opl. Lett. 31 (2006) 1991—to form a single laser beam7.

The diode laser power levels available at each individual wavelength canbe determined by a different number of diode laser bars 119 for eachindividual wavelength range.

However, alternatively or additionally, individual diode laser bars 119or emission groups of diode lasers 117/119 which are characterized bytheir wavelength can also be operated separately by means of appropriatepower supply lines 126, thus allowing the emission power for eachindividual wavelength to be determined by regulation of the diodecurrent.

Exemplary embodiments for the apparatus 20 for DRI or HDR imageproduction have been described above, in which the different intensitiesin each case emitted by the laser apparatus 26 differ by means of colorcoding. However, there have recently been ever greater developments inthe field of high-speed cameras. If required, correspondingly fastcameras 13 make it possible to dispense with color or wavelength codingfor the illuminating radiation. This is particularly the case if thecamera 13 can differentiate sufficiently quickly between such images andcan record images which have been illuminated with laser radiation whichconsists of a sequence of quickly successive pulses at different powerlevels.

Suitable pulses can be produced by using appropriate laser techniquesaccording to the prior art, with time intervals in the range from 10 μsup to several milliseconds. FIG. 9 illustrates one example of a pulsesequence.

FIG. 10 illustrates one example of a laser apparatus 26 such as this,which can produce the suitable pulses. This exemplary embodiment for thelaser apparatus 26 is in the form of a laser oscillator/laser amplifierapparatus 40. This laser oscillator/laser amplifier apparatus 40 has alaser oscillator 127 and a laser amplifier 129, as well as a powersupply and pulse-shaping unit 131.

The laser oscillator 127 produces a laser beam 128, which produces asequence of a plurality of pulses of the same amplitude, for examplewith pulse widths in the range from 1 ns to 500 ns.

The energy in the individual pulses is increased in the laser amplifier129 which is arranged downstream from this.

In order to achieve the variation of the pulse amplitudes in theamplified illumination beam 130 as is required for DRI or HDR pictures,the pump energy of the laser amplifier, which is provided by the powersupply and pulse-shaping unit 131, is varied for the duration of theoscillator pulse sequence such that the pulses which pass through thelaser amplifier 129 successively, that is to say at different times, areamplified to different extents. One example of a profile of the pumpenergy of the laser amplifier 129, which may be used in this case, isillustrated as a function of time in FIG. 11.

Furthermore, a suitable pulse sequence with a power level which variesover time can also be produced by the arrangements 32, as describedabove, of a plurality of lasers, in particular by the high-power diodelaser configurations described above.

There is no need for different emission wavelengths in this case, aswell. The individual diode lasers 117 or diode laser bars 119 can (butneed not) emit in the same wavelength range. A correspondingillumination profile over time can be produced by pump-current pulseswhich are applied successively to the individual diode lasers 117, 119and have a different current level. Such current pulses have a typicallength of about 100 μs up to 1 ms, as a result of which the overallpulse sequence can have a length of several milliseconds, which isnevertheless sufficient for exposure purposes.

This also applies to the same extent to the compact variant which is inthe form of a stack 120 as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the individualdiode laser bars 119 are then operated separately, thus resulting incorrespondingly different emission power levels as a result of differentcurrent levels which are applied successively for excitation of thediode laser bars 119.

In this case, it is advantageous for the individual beam elements 4preferably to be injected into a quartz multimode fiber with an opticalconfiguration as described in P. Peuser et al., Opt. Lett. 31 (2006)1991. When the optical pulses pass through the fiber, which typicallyhas a length of several meters, the intensity distribution ishomogenized over the fiber cross section. The radiation is then used toilluminate the scene to be recorded, by means of a suitable opticalarrangement, for example a telescope—first telescope 6.

The receiving part (not illustrated) of an apparatus 20 such as this, inwhich the individual intensities are identified purely by the timesequence, will be distinguished by an appropriately designed high-powercamera which then in each case successively records the individualimages which are exposed with only one of the successive pulses.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   1 Short-pulse laser-   2 Beam splitter-   3 Optically non-linear material-   4 Beam elements-   5 Edge filter-   6 First telescope-   7 Combined laser beam-   8 Object-   9 Reflected radiation-   10 Second telescope-   11 Filter arrangement-   12 Color channels-   13 Camera-   14 Image processing unit-   15 a Individual pulse-   15 b Individual pulse-   15 c Individual pulse-   15 d Individual pulse-   15 e Individual pulse-   15 f Individual pulse-   16 Pulse sequence-   17 Beam splitter-   18 Measurement unit-   20 Apparatus-   22 Transmitting part-   24 Receiving part-   26 Laser apparatus-   28 Recording device-   30 Beamforming arrangement-   31 Wavelength converter device-   32 Arrangement of a plurality of lasers-   40 Laser oscillator/laser amplifier apparatus-   111 Edge filter-   110 Telescope-   117 Diode laser-   118 Control unit-   119 Diode laser bar-   120 Stack-   121 Diode laser elements-   122 Mount-   123 Heat dissipation plate-   124 Microcylindrical lenses-   125 Spacing element-   126 Power supply line-   127 Laser oscillator-   128 Laser beam-   129 Laser amplifier-   130 Amplified illumination beam-   131 Power supply and pulse-shaping unit

1. A method for producing dynamic range increase (DRI) or high dynamicrange (HDR) pictures, the method comprising: irradiating an object withlaser radiation at different intensities to produce differently exposedindividual images; and combining the differently exposed individualimages to form a DRI or HDR picture.
 2. The method as claimed in claim1, the laser radiation includes radiation elements including differentwavelengths that are each emitted with specific different intensities.3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising capturingradiation reflected from the object which has been exposed to the laserradiation on the basis of wavelengths to produce the differently exposedindividual images with different illumination intensities.
 4. The methodas claimed in claim 2, wherein the laser radiation having differentwavelengths is emitted in one laser illumination pulse.
 5. The method asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the irradiating includes irradiating theobject with the laser radiation that includes a sequence of laser pulsesat the different intensities.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 5,wherein the laser pulses in the sequence of laser pulses are emitted attime intervals having one of the following durations: less than or equalto 1 ms; a nanosecond range; a picosecond range; and less than or equalto 100 ns.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the laser pulsesare emitted with pulse widths of one of the following durations: lessthan or equal to 1 ms; a nanosecond range; a picosecond range; and lessthan or equal to
 100. 8. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein thelaser pulses are emitted with different wavelengths and differentintensities, and the laser pulses of a specific intensity are identifiedon the basis of their wavelength for DRI or HDR image processing.
 9. Themethod as claimed in claim 5, wherein successive laser pulses areproduced in a specific sequence with different intensities, and thelaser pulses of a specific intensity are identified by their timesequence for DRI or HDR image processing.
 10. The method as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the irradiating includes operating a laser oscillatorto produce the sequence of laser pulses of different intensities; andoperating a laser amplifier to vary the amplitudes of the successivelaser pulses by varying a pump energy for the laser amplifier.
 11. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the irradiating includes dividinglaser radiation from a laser into a plurality of beam elements,performing a waver conversion operation on the beam elements to producebeam elements having different wavelengths with different respectiveintensities, and combining the beam elements to form a laser beam thatis irradiated as the laser radiation.
 12. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein the irradiating includes combining radiation emitted by aplurality of lasers to create the laser radiation irradiated on theobject.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the irradiatingincludes operating the plurality of lasers to emit beam elements ofdifferent intensities and at least one of the following wavelengthscorresponding to the different intensities; and a predetermined timesequence of laser pulses of different intensities; and combining thebeam elements to form the laser radiation.
 14. The method as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the operating the plurality of lasers includesoperating the plurality of lasers to emit the beam elementssynchronously.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprisingmeasuring the different intensities of the laser radiation; andassociating the individual images with the different intensities usedfor exposure.
 16. An apparatus for producing dynamic range increase(DRI) or high dynamic range (HDR) pictures, the apparatus comprising: anemitting device configured to emit light radiation including lightradiation elements of different intensities to an object; and arecording device configured to capture radiation reflected by the objectto capture differently exposed individual images of the object; and animage processing unit configured to produce a DRI or HDR picture from aplurality of the exposed individual images which have been captured bythe recording device.
 17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, whereinthe emitting device is further configured to provide a respectiveidentification for each of the light radiation elements having thedifferent intensities; and the recording device includes a filterconfigured to filter the radiation reflected by the object based on therespective identifications to record individual images based on thelaser radiation elements having the different intensities.
 18. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the emitting device isconfigured to transmit each of the light radiation elements at adifferent wavelength to provide the respective identification for eachof the light radiation elements, such that a wavelength is associatedwith an intensity; and the filter is configured to filter the lightradiation of the different wavelengths to produce the exposed individualimages.
 19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the emittingdevice includes a laser configured to transmit a specific sequence oflaser pulses of different intensities as the light radiation; and thefilter arrangement is configured to filter the laser pulses based ontheir time sequence to produce the exposed individual images.
 20. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the emitting device includes alaser configured to transmit as the light radiation laser pulses havingone of the following durations: a maximum of 1 ms; and a maximum of 100ns; and at one of the following pulse intervals: a maximum pulseinterval of 1 ms; and a maximum pulse interval of 100 ns.
 21. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the laser is configured totransmit the laser pulses at different intensities.
 22. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 21, wherein the laser is configured to transmit each ofthe laser pulses at a different wavelength with a different intensityintensities.
 23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein theemitting device includes a laser configured to transmit laser pulses,with each of the laser pulses containing one of the light radiationelements, and the laser pulses being transmitted at differentwavelengths with different intensities.
 24. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 22, wherein the laser is configured to emit primary radiation andincludes at least one wavelength converter device configured to shift aportion of the primary radiation to a different wavelength.
 25. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the emitting device includes aplurality of lasers configured to produce laser radiation elements atdifferent intensities as the light radiation elements.
 26. The apparatusas claimed in claim 25, wherein the plurality of lasers are configuredto emit the laser radiation elements at different wavelengths.
 27. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the plurality of lasers areconfigured to emit the laser radiation elements in a specific timesequence.
 28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the emittingdevice includes a plurality of diode lasers, which are configured toproduce laser radiation having different intensities as the lightradiation, and wherein the diode lasers have at least one of thefollowing characteristics different emission wavelengths; and areoperated successively for emission in a specific time sequence.
 29. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the diode lasers areconfigured to emit a different number of diode laser elements for eachemission wavelength, with different intensities at the differentemission wavelengths.
 30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, furthercomprising a control unit configured to operate the individual diodelasers or emission groups of the diode lasers with different intensity,to produce different intensities of the radiation element emitted at theindividual wavelengths.
 31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28,further comprising a control unit configured to emit a sequence ofcurrent pulses, separated in time and each with a different currentamplitude, in order to produce a pulse sequence at a power which variesover time to operate the diode lasers.
 32. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 16, wherein the emitting device comprises a laser oscillatorconfigured to produce a laser beam which contains a sequence of aplurality of pulses; a laser amplifier configured to amplify the pulsesproduced by the laser oscillator; and a pump source configured to supplythe laser amplifier with pump energy which varies over time, in order toamplify the pulses such that they vary over time, to produce the lightradiation.